Sunday, September 23, 2007

A most pleasing experience


So much anticipation and excitement about the Pastel Workshop and it went by in a blink. It was although one of the best experieinces I have had in my life. The learning was paramount and the company unmatchable. Michael Newberry was a dear and I am very grateful for his patience and expertise to head a workshop.


This was my first time painting outdoors and I have to admit I was not that satisfied with the outcome, I need very much practice but I will never let that keep me from trying again. It is just so incredible how the light changes in minutes and to find our brightest bright was very challenging because it was there one minute and gone the next. We also had limited time to do these and that was something I would foget easily and wanted to work more on perfecting it than the light, so in part I have to learn to work fast. I wasn't going to post anything but I guess sometimes it can be a learning experience to post what one had trouble with and remember the suggetions and comments of a mentor like Michael.
Now back to my pastel colors studies for my grisaille.


9 comments:

Sue Johnson said...

Hi Mary, I remember this work. I think it was done at the end of the last day. Liked it then. I like it now especially the light behind the trees.

I agree the workshop was a tremendous learning experience and a wonderful introduction to working outside. Michael's input and patience were very supportive of all our work. Meeting you and Robin was another highlight of the weekend.

I can relate to the feeling of needing more practice and the challenges of working outdoors especially capturing the light.

I look forward to seeing more of your pastels--both the ones done inside and the ones done outside.

Mary said...

Thank you Sue, and yes it was also a great pleasure for me to meet you. I can visually see your work too that I enjoyed so much for its abstract quality.

I think the workshop gave us a great incentive to keep going and not give up when things don't feel easy.

Pilan said...

Mary, I think you did an excellent pastel for outside. I would have been paining to get through this with pastels. I am glad you had a great time and meeting Robin and Michael. I look forward to more pastels. The things you are learning certainly can be used in abstracts and other styles of painting.

So glad you had a great time.

Stacy said...

Oh yay! An update about the workshop! I've been waiting so patiently. :)

I like this pastel Mary! You did excellent with the challenge of working outside with a fairly new medium. I don't know if I've ever done a painting I liked in a workshop. There is just so much information to absorb in such a short amount of time.

Mary said...

Thank you Pilan! Yes working outdoors was something completely new but I want to continue doing it precisely with pastels.

Hi Stacy! I missed so much not meeting you but I hope there will be another time. I have been working hard on my pastel color studies and have found that everything I saw Michael do has made it so much easier.

Billie Crain said...

Mary, you did it! your first plein air pastel! and it's great! i'm so glad you all had a wonderful time with Michael. what an opportunity!

Robyn Sinclair said...

Please Mary, I want to see more too. Do you have some from the studio sessions? You've nailed beautiful light in this one and I gather that is what you set out to do. I so relate to the panic of having to work quickly. I'd still be sitting there, frozen with fright ;)

Mary said...

Thank you Robin, for your visit. Yes I will upload a couple more and I am working very hard right now on the tissue part in pastel for my oil painting. Challenging!

Jeanette Jobson said...

Mary, you're so lucky to have experience a workshop with Michael and I know you've learned so much.

Capturing light in reality is a challenge but this drawing looks impressive, so I think you've done very well with it.